Suess easy winner in Wheaton’s North District

The incumbent in Wheaton’s only contested race for a seat on the city council handily won re-election Tuesday.

According to final unofficial totals, Phil Suess garnered 884 votes to defeat a field of three challengers. J.T. Del Alcazar finished second with 587 votes, followed by Ted Rodgers with 434 and Alberta Adamson with 325.

Suess will begin his third term representing the city’s North District during the May 6 city council meeting.

The investment consultant said he plans to continue focusing on annual infrastructure improvements and developing a program to replace parkway trees lost in storms or infected by the emerald ash borer. Another priority will be reviewing a strategic plan being prepared by a design consultant hired by the city.

“I am very interested in enhancements to the streetscape,” Suess said. “How do we make the appearance of the downtown more inviting and more pedestrian-friendly and more green in the context of trees and parklike settings?”

In the city’s uncontested races, two incumbents — West District Councilman Todd Scalzo and South District Councilman John Rutledge — retained their seats.

W. Thoreson “Thor” Saline, who also ran unopposed, will serve in the council’s East District. Saline was appointed in January to fill a vacant seat formerly held by Jeanne Ives, who resigned from the at-large position in November after her election to the state legislature.

Former Councilman John Prendiville will take over the at-large seat and complete Ives’ term until 2015.